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The nephron is the kidney's fundamental unit, crucial for fluid and electrolyte balance. It consists of the Bowman's capsule, proximal convoluted tubule, Loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and collecting duct. These structures work together to filter blood, reabsorb nutrients, and concentrate urine, supported by a vascular network that includes the glomerulus, afferent and efferent arterioles, and peritubular capillaries.
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Cortical nephrons are located in the kidney's cortex and are essential for excretory and regulatory functions
Juxtamedullary nephrons are located near the medulla and play a key role in concentrating urine
Bowman's Capsule
The Bowman's capsule surrounds the glomerulus and acts as a selective filtration barrier
Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)
The PCT reabsorbs a significant portion of the filtrate, including essential nutrients and water
Loop of Henle
The Loop of Henle creates an osmotic gradient for urine concentration through its descending and ascending limbs
Distal Convoluted Tubule (DCT)
The DCT is responsible for selective reabsorption of ions and regulation of blood pH
Collecting Duct
The collecting duct fine-tunes water reabsorption and determines the final concentration of urine
The Bowman's capsule filters blood, allowing water and small solutes to pass into the nephron while retaining larger molecules
The PCT reabsorbs essential nutrients and water through both passive and active transport mechanisms
The Loop of Henle creates an osmotic gradient for urine concentration through its descending and ascending limbs
The DCT regulates blood pH through active transport processes for ions and responds to hormones
The collecting duct fine-tunes water reabsorption under hormonal control, ultimately determining the final concentration of urine
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Cortical nephrons are primarily found in the kidney's ______, while juxtamedullary nephrons are located close to the ______.
cortex
medulla
01
Structure surrounding glomerulus
Bowman's capsule, a cup-like sac.
02
Cells forming inner layer of Bowman's capsule
Podocytes with foot processes for selective filtration.
